On the Passing of Javier Leonardo Varon, Colombian Treatment Activist

Statement from Public Citizen

"Leo was warm, charismatic, and so filled with energy that it is difficult to imagine him losing his life. I
met Leo in Managua at CONCASIDA back in 2007. He invited us to work in
Bogota, in his characteristic manner of seeing possibility and leaping
for it.
At Leo’s initiative, we and many treatment activists worked together on
a campaign challenging Abbott’s monopoly hold on lopinavir + ritonavir.
Prices have fallen by 70% as a result. As Francisco Rossi has pointed
out, many of the documents from that campaign
bear Leo’s name.Leo shared his humor, his city and his lovely bar El Perro y La Calandria with us. He was a friend, and I miss him."

-Peter Maybarduk, Public Citizen

The International Treatment Preparedness Coalition mourns the passing of Latin American Treatment Activist Javier Varon

ITPC
regretfully announces the death of Javier Leonardo Varon, one of the
drivers of treatment access in Latin America. A native of Colombia, Mr.
Varon,
with other activists, was a leading force in the creation of ITPC’s
Latin American Network in 2005, first known as Coalicion de activistas
sobre Tratamiento (CIAT) and now known as ITPC Latin America. His
vision, along with the Regional Advisory Committee,
established ITPC’s small grant making model in Latin America and
created a strong foundation for community organizations to grow and
advocate for community needs. Beyond his work with ITPC, Mr. Varon
helped to establish “HIV Farmacovigilancia” for the first
time in Latin America and raised awareness in the community about
health care as a right. He was an unforgettable activists and known for
his generosity, commitment, intelligence, and resilience. He was a
champion in the fight against AIDS in Latin America
and the World, and his loss will be deeply felt.

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